The parks of Greater Kansas City are sources of pride for city, county and state governments; they are also great sources of pleasure for several million folks, residents and tourists both, who enjoy them every year.

Their number is too great to completely catalog. Here we sample a few with the hope that residents will explore these and discover others along the way.

Penn Valley Park, 28th and Wyandotte, includes the recently renovated World War I Liberty Memorial, an excellent view of downtown skyline, small lake, four tennis courts, ball diamond, picnic tables and restrooms.

Swope Park, Swope Parkway and Meyer Boulevard, at 1,769 acres the city’s largest and one of its first parks. Home to the Kansas City Zoo, Sprint IMAX Theatre in the Deramus Education Pavilion at the Zoo, Starlight Theatre, Swope Memorial Golf Course, the Blue River Golf Academy, fishing lake, Lakeside Nature Center (816-513-8960) with good hands-on exhibits and the state’s largest wildlife rehab center, swimming pool, 10 shelter houses, bicycle routes, many picnic areas, basketball courts and soccer and rugby fields.

Fort Osage, a National Historic Landmark northwest of Sibley, on the Missouri River (816) 650-5737; served as one of the first military outposts and government trade houses in the Louisiana Purchase; reconstructed fort overlooking the river provides insight into the daily life at the Fort in 1812. Also: boat ramp, fishing, hiking, picnic areas and restrooms; adjoins 32-acre Hayes Park. Open April 15-Nov. 15.

Longview Lake Park, I-470 and Raytown Road, (816) 795-8200; 4,852 acres with 930-acre lake (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) that offers power boating, water skiing, fishing, full-service marina, public swimming beach; also picnic shelters, hike and bike trails, softball complex, equestrian park and trails, campground and the championship Fred Arbanas Golf Course. Site of “Christmas in the Park” every November and December.

Platte CountyEnglish Landing Park, south end of Main Street in Parkville, (816) 741-7676; riverfront park with scenic trail, shelters, boat ramp, ball fields and Waddell Bridge, on the National Historic Register.

Tryst Falls, five miles east of Kearney on Highway 92, (816) 532-0803; 40 acres with scenic waterfall, two shelters, picnic benches and baseball diamond.

Water Well Athletic Complex, Missouri Highway 9 and North Broadway, (816) 513-7500; 66 acres with five ball diamonds (four lit).

Watkins Mill State Park, six miles east of Kearney on Highway 92, (816) 296-3357; 1,289 acres including reconstructed 19th century woolen mill with outbuildings and house; 100-acre lake for boats and canoes, fishing and swimming; bicycling, hiking, playgrounds, picnic areas, campsites with laundry and showers. Unusual combination of southern plantation culture with beginnings of the industrial era. Tours.

Mill Creek Streamway, paved 14-mile trail link between Nelson Island on the Kansas River on the north, through Shawnee Mission Park to Olathe; for walking, biking, strolling or skateboarding. (Other paved trails line creeks in Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee and Leawood; call the cities for information.)

Leavenworth County State Lake, northwest of Tonganoxie on Highway 90; 160-acre fishing and boating lake with beautiful space for camping and picnicking; Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks.

Leavenworth Landing Park, Cherokee and Esplanade Streets on the Missouri River; commemorates what was a major river landing site with various modes of transportation, trail, plazas and river overlooks.

Wyandotte County Lake Park, 91st and Leavenworth Road; 1,500 Ozarks-like acres with 17 shelters, picnic sites, playgrounds, restrooms, recreation hall, horse trails and 400-acre lake for swimming, boating and fishing (special area for kids’ fishing). A model railroad offers free rides the second Saturday of the month, April through November.

Wyandotte County Park, 126th and State Avenue, adjacent to the Agricultural Hall of Fame on I-70 north of Bonner Springs; 360 acres including site of the annual Renaissance Festival in the fall, George J. Meyn Community Center, seven shelters, lighted tennis courts, softball, soccer and football fields and picnic areas with restrooms; adjoins Sandstone Amphitheatre outdoor concert venue.